Blogger has changed its' interface just enough to make it interesting to blog, these days!
This week, we had a big change at Calamity Acres. It went from the miserable heat of two weeks ago, to three days of off and on rain and much cooler weather. In fact, right now it is 73, and I am back in shorts for the first time all week.
Look at THIS:
Can you believe that I had my Carhartt on on September 9th???
It was in the low fifties and drizzling that morning, and I just could not face it!
That's the earliest I can ever remember wearing it, and it is back in the closet now.
You can see by the way this squirrel has his tail wrapped
over his back that it was still chilly out! I don't begrudge
the squirrels a single seed, either.
The pumpkin patch is going crazy, and I counted ten pumpkins this morning in various sizes. None is huge, they are mostly decorative, and two are ripe and I will have to pick them.
The rain made the pasture spring back, and heads have been down all week.
My fave.
When I look at the deck and porch from out in the yard, now,
the flowers are not as bright.
In fact, tomorrow, I am going to pull out most of the zinnias, which have
gone by. It's almost time for mums.
That's my beautiful Ferdie, father of Buddy and Singleton.
He is the low man on the totem pole, I'm afraid.
He is my favorite, though.
This is his Mini-me, Buddy.
Buddy did rule the roost for a while.
Here is the real boss, oldest son Singleton! (the only chick
to hatch under his mama in that hatch).
Singie will literally run clear across the yard to bump his
dad or brother if they look at a hen!
Speckles the Speckled Sussex (I didn't name her)
Stripes, the Barred Rock. See the difference in the combs on the two girls?
Speckles is four, and her comb and wattle is washed out, almost pink.
Stripes is two, and hers is still bright red. She does not lay, though,
or maybe is hiding the eggs.
This is one of my five Ameracaunas, see her muffs on
either side of her face? These particular birds lay green eggs,
some lay blue. At least, the three that are SOMETIMES laying, lay green eggs.
That's the problem, so many of my 19 hens are way past laying age.
Do I get more? I did, this year, and remember, the raccoons killed them.
I have figured out a way to secure that small hen house, and
am thinking of getting a few young layers.
Why, at my age, would I do that? I was going to let them peter out
from old age.
They keep me young. I HAVE to get up, get dressed, go out, and take
care of them, rain or shine, summer or winter.
Twice a day.
They are good for me.
Gourd vines went crazy on the old walnut tree stump.
Smallish, but interesting.
I have very few in-ground perennials left (that you can see).
This sedum is one of them, I had Ben cut down everything
else in that bed. I am going to try to rehab this bed, and this bed ONLY.
Everything else will be on the deck next year.
I end with a sad picture. I was counting pumpkins today and went around to the back of the beds.
There I found a dismembered cardinal. I have about eight pairs who eat
here, they are the last every evening. I suspect I am short a male.
I suspect Rusty, the feral cat, though I keep him well-fed.
Stay safe, everyone.
It just started raining here. Suppose to rain for 3 or 4 days.
ReplyDeleteChickens have their ways.
Love the sheep. We all have our favorites.
That is the way of cats.
My mother used to get so mad at our cat Missy. We were always finding bird carcasses on the porch. She said if she was a pathetic stray that had to kill to eat it would be different. Unfortunately, Cats hunt for pleasure. cats hunt for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteWe've had some chilly weather here, too. We did get a couple inches of rain, which we really needed.
We MAY get a little rain this coming week, and desperately need the moisture to put out the fires and rinse the ash from the plants and the smoke from the air. I think you would find that you are caring for hens twice a day for a number of years yet, even without getting new ones. Mine live 7-9 years, and still give occasional eggs.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the rhythm of the day the hens would provide, MA... so you get hens if you want hens! Yeah, and cats will be cats. Autumn is really biting in this side of the pond too. YAM xx
Your chickens look so good! Mine are absolutely ugly right now - molting, I guess, with feathers missing from their necks and elsewhere. It is raining and a little bit warmer here in Ontario. I love your header picture! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteIt's turned cooler here too and I'm ready to get the flannel sheets on the bed. The house warms during the day but really cools off at night. I hate to turn the furnace on. I didn't have to put on my winter coat but used a hooded sweat jacket. Sad time of year watching summer disappear.
ReplyDeleteCooler here last week also, back to 70's this week. I've been keeping the house a bit warm canning tomatoes and baking pie pumpkins, can't beat the smell either. Beautiful chickens and your flowers look better than mine, a week of rain pushed all the glads over. - Dee
ReplyDeleteWe are definitely heading into autumn hear. I wished I had gloves one morning this week, it was about 48. It has also been very wet. Sad to see the cardinal, but so is the circle of life. Take care and stay warm or cool but most importantly, healthy!
ReplyDelete